Superconducting single-pole double-throw switch system

ABSTRACT

A superconducting switch system is provided that includes a filter network having a first SQUID coupled to a second SQUID via a common node, an input port coupled to the common node, a first output port coupled to the first SQUID, and a second output port coupled to the second SQUID. The superconducting switch system also includes a switch controller configured to control an amount of induced current through the first SQUID and the second SQUID to alternately switch the first and second SQUIDS between first inductance states in which a desired bandwidth portion of a signal provided at the input terminal passes to the first output terminal and is blocked from passing to the second output terminal, and second inductance states in which the desired bandwidth portion of the input signal passes to the second output terminal and is blocked from passing to the first output terminal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to superconducting circuits, and more particularly to a superconducting single-pole double-throw switch system.

BACKGROUND

Conventional microwave mechanical, electro-mechanical, and electronic switches may not compatible with on-chip integration with, and cryogenic operation of superconducting electronic circuits, because of incompatible fabrication processes and high power dissipation. Likewise, tunable filters that are commonly realized by use of either active components such as voltage-variable capacitors i.e. varactors, mechanical drivers, or ferroelectric and ferrite materials, are not easily controllable by signal levels that can be generated with single flux quantum (SFQ) technologies, and many are not operable at cryogenic temperatures. While superconducting microwave filters, both fixed and tunable, have been previously realized using both high temperature and low temperature superconductors, their use in switching applications suffered from high return loss, limited usable bandwidth, and poor out-of-band off-state isolation

SUMMARY

In one example, a superconducting switch system is provided that comprises a first Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) having a first variable inductance coupling element, and a second SQUID having a second variable inductance coupling element. The second SQUID is coupled to the first SQUID through a common node. The superconducting switch system further comprises a first terminal coupled to the common node, a second terminal coupled to the first SQUID through an end opposite the common node, a third terminal coupled to the second SQUID through an end opposite the common node, and a switch controller. The switch controller is configured to control the setting of the first variable inductance coupling element and the second variable inductance coupling element between opposing inductance states to allow selective routing of signals between one of a first path between the first terminal and the second terminal and a second path between the first terminal and the third terminal.

In yet another example, a superconducting switch system comprises a filter network having a first SQUID coupled to a second SQUID via a common node, an input port coupled to the common node, a first output port coupled to the first SQUID, and a second output port coupled to the second SQUID. The superconducting switch system also comprises a switch controller configured to control an amount of induced current through the first SQUID and the second SQUID to alternately switch the first and second SQUIDs between first inductance states in which a desired bandwidth portion of a signal provided at the input terminal passes to the first output terminal and is blocked from passing to the second output terminal, and second inductance states in which the desired bandwidth portion of the input signal passes to the second output terminal and is blocked from passing to the first output terminal.

In yet a further example, a superconducting switch is provided that comprises a first SQUID having a first inductor, a first Josephson junction and a common inductor arranged in a first superconducting loop, and a second SQUID having the common inductor, a second Josephson junction and a second inductor arranged in a second superconducting loop. A first terminal is coupled to a common node, which connects to a first end of the common inductor, a first end of the first Josephson junction and a first end of the second Josephson junction. A second terminal is coupled to a second end of the first Josephson junction and a first end of the first inductor, and a third terminal is coupled to a second end of the second Josephson junction and a first end of the second inductor. A common mode flux bias line includes a common bias inductor inductively coupled to common inductor, and a differential mode flux bias line that includes a first differential bias inductor inductively coupled to the first inductor, and a second differential bias inductor inductively coupled to the second inductor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a superconducting single-pole double-throw switch system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of a single-pole double-throw switch circuit.

FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit schematic for simulation utilization with the junctions J₁ and J₂ of FIG. 2 modeled as inductors L1 and L2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a graph showing the transmission of an input signal from input port terminal 1 to output port terminal 2 and the blocking of the input signal from transmission to the output port terminal 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a graph showing the transmission of an input signal from input port terminal 1 to output port terminal 3 and the blocking of the input signal from transmission to the output port terminal 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic circuit of another example of a single-pole double-throw switch circuit residing in a different filter design to utilize in a simulation.

FIG. 7 illustrates a set of WRSpice simulation results of the circuit of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates generally to superconducting circuits, and more particularly to a superconducting single-pole double-throw switching system. The superconducting single-pole double-throw switching system can include a first variable inductance coupler (also referred to as variable inductance coupling element) that couples and decouples a first section of a filter network and a second section of the filter network, also referred to as a first path, and a second variable inductance coupler that couples and decouples the first section of the filter network and a third section of the filter network, also referred to as a second path. The first and second variable inductance couplers can be controlled to have a first inductance state of the switching system, which allows passing of signals between the first and second sections of the filter network, while blocking signals from passing from the first and third sections of the filter network. Furthermore, the first and second variable inductance couplers can be controlled to have a second inductance state of the switching system, which allows passing of signals between the first and third sections of the filter network, while blocking signals from passing from the first and second sections of the filter network.

In one example, the first and second variable inductance couplers are each elements of adjacent Radio Frequency (RF) Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (hereinafter, referred to as RF SQUIDs or SQUIDs). A first Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID) can include a first inductor and a second inductor coupled to opposite sides of the first variable inductance coupler. A second SQUID can include the second inductor and a third inductor coupled to opposite sides of the second variable inductance coupler. The second inductor can be a common inductor that couples both the first and second SQUID to one another to form a double SQUID circuit configuration. A variable inductance coupler can be, for example, a Josephson junction that has an induction that can be varied based on a current flowing through the Josephson junction. The current flowing through a given Josephson junction can be induced based on a flux applied to a respective SQUID.

In one example, the first and second Josephson junctions can have a first inductance when no current or a low current is induced in the respective SQUID, and a second inductance when a current or a higher current is induced in the respective SQUID that is at a predetermined threshold that generates or induces a flux, for example, greater than about 0.1 Φ₀ and less than about 0.45 Φ₀, where Φ₀ is equal to a flux quantum. The first inductance (e.g., h/2e*1/I_(C), where h is Planck's constant divided by 2π, e is electron charge and I_(C) is the critical current of the Josephson junction) can provide coupling between desired sections of a filter network such to allow passing of a desired bandwidth portion of an input signal between opposing ends of the the desired sections. The second inductance (e.g., large inductance value) can provide decoupling between the sections of the filter network such that the passing of the desired bandwidth portion of the input signal is blocked between opposing ends of the undesired sections.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a superconducting single-pole double-throw switch system 10. The superconducting single-pole double-throw switch system 10 routes signals from a first terminal (TM_(A)) to one of a second terminal (TM_(B)) or a third terminal (TM_(C)). Alternatively, the signals can be routed from one of the second terminal TM_(B) or the third terminal TM_(C) to the first terminal TM_(A). The superconducting single-pole double-throw switch system 10 can be implemented in any of a variety of superconducting circuit systems to provide switch control of signals between two alternate paths. As an example, the signals can be a microwave signal that is implemented in a control scheme for a quantum circuit, such as performing a gate or a readout operation on a qubit. As another example, the signal can be a signal pulse, a communication signal, or a control command signal. The superconducting switch system 10 can provide a band-pass filtered output signal that can corresponds to a desirable portion (e.g., particular frequency bandwidth) of a signal passing through one of a first path and a second path. Additionally, the desired portion of the signal can be blocked such that none of the desired portion of the signal is allowed to pass though the other of the first path and the second path.

As one example, the superconducting switch system 10 includes a microwave band-pass filter network 12 that can include one or more impedance components (i.e., capacitors, resistors, inductors) for configuring an input portion of the filter network 12 as one or more input resonators, and a pair of output portions of the filter network 12 each having one or more output resonators. The filter network 12 can include a double SQUID circuit 14 that includes a first SQUID with a first variable inductance coupler associated with a first path, and a second SQUID with a second variable inductance coupler associated with a second path. The first and second SQUIDs can each also include one or more components that operate both as components of a superconducting loop of the respective SQUIDs, and impedance components of the one or more input and/or the one or more output resonators. Additionally, the first and second SQUIDs can also include one or more components that are shared between the first and second SQUIDs. The first and second SQUIDs operate as the active elements in the superconducting switch, such that the flux-tunable inductance of the SQUIDs can selectively couple sections of the filter circuit to provide passing of signals between one of two paths, and blocking of signals between the other of the two paths. The SQUIDs are embedded in the microwave band-pass filter network 12 to provide matching to the 50 Ohm impedance environment.

A set of bias elements 16 are inductively coupled to the first and second SQUIDs in a configuration that provides for inducement of a net flux as a result of a net current in one of the first SQUID and second SQUID that exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g., a net flux of a substantial fraction of one half of a flux quantum), and a net flux as a result of a net current in the other of the first SQUID and second SQUID that falls substantially below the predetermined threshold (e.g., approximately 0 net flux). A net flux or current induced in one of the SQUIDs that exceeds the predetermined threshold results in a high inductance for the SQUID's associated variable inductance coupler, and blocking of signals through that respective SQUID. A net flux or current induced in one of the SQUIDs that falls substantially below the predetermined threshold results in a low inductance for the SQUID's associated variable inductance coupler, and the passing of signals through that respective SQUID. The bias elements 16 can be controlled by a switch controller 18 that controls an amount and polarities of bias current to the bias elements 16, which in turn, controls an amount of current and flux induced in each respective SQUID and flowing through the variable inductance couplers of each respective SQUID.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a single-pole double-throw switch circuit 30. As illustrated in FIG. 2, Josephson junction J₁ is connected to a first inductors L₁ and a common inductor L_(COM) to form a first RF-SQUID 32 (SQUID #1) enclosing externally applied flux Φ₁. Likewise, Josephson junction J₂ is connected to a second inductor L₂ and the common inductor L_(COM) to form a second RF-SQUID 34 (SQUID #2) enclosing externally applied flux Φ₂. The opposite ends of the first inductor L₁, the common inductor L_(COM) and the second inductor L₂ are coupled to a common reference point (ground) to form a first superconducting loop associated with the first RF SQUID 32, and to form a second superconducting loop associated with the second RF SQUID. The Josephson junctions critical currents are such that I_(c1,2)(L_(1,2)+L_(com))<Φ₀. The effective inductances of junctions J₁ and J₂ are functions of the applied fluxes Φ₁ and Φ₂, respectively. When the applied flux is approximately zero, the inductance of the respective junction is given by L=h/2eI_(c), where I_(c) is the junction critical current. The junction inductance increases with applied flux until it diverges when the flux reaches a value near Φ₀/2 (the exact value depends on the product of the junction critical current and the self-inductance of the RF-SQUID loop).

An input terminal (TM_(A)) or port is coupled to a common node 36 of the first and second RF SQUIDs 32 and 34 through an input coupling capacitor C_(CA). A first output terminal (TM_(B)) or port is connected to the first RF SQUID 32 through a first output coupling capacitor C_(CB), and a second output terminal (TM_(B)) or port is connected to the second RF SQUID through a second output coupling capacitor (TM_(C)). It is to be appreciated that for the switch circuit 30 to operate as a proper functioning filter circuit, capacitors would be need to be placed in parallel to L₁, L₂ and L_(COM) similar to the filter arrangements shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. A differential-mode flux bias line (DML) is provided that includes a first differential mode bias inductor (L_(BD1)) inductively coupled to the first inductor L1, and a second differential mode bias inductor (L_(BD1)) inductively coupled to the second inductor L2. Additionally, a common mode flux bias line (CML) is provided that includes a common mode bias inductor (L_(BC)) is inductively coupled to the common inductor (L_(COM)). A switch controller (not shown) can control the magnitude and direction of current applied to the differential-mode flux bias line (DML) and the common mode flux bias line (CML) to control the amount and polarity of flux applied to each SQUID, and thus, the inductance of the first Josephson junction J1 and the second Josephson junction J2.

Fluxes Φ₁ and Φ₂ can be applied in such a way that one of junctions J₁ or J₂ has a low inductance in response to one of flux Φ₁ or Φ₂ being essentially zero, while the other junction has a large inductance in response to the to the other of flux Φ₁ or Φ₂ being a substantial fraction of Φ₀/2. In this example, an input signal SIG_(IN) (e.g., a microwave signal) will flow from an input port (TM_(A)) through a selected low inductance junction (J₁ or J₂) to a selected output port (TM_(A) or TM_(B)) as an output signal (SIG_(OUT1) or SIG_(OUT2)), while the non-selected port (the other of TM_(A) or TM_(B)) connected to an unselected high inductance junction (the other of J1 or J2) remains isolated. By controlling the applied fluxes Φ₁ and Φ₂, the input signal SIG_(IN) can be routed from the input port to one of the output ports, while isolating the other of the output ports from passing the input signal.

FIG. 2 demonstrates how the fluxes Φ₁ and Φ₂ can be controlled individually by applying two bias currents through the device's common mode bias line (CML) and differential mode bias line (DML). The applying of the bias current induces currents in the first and second SQUIDs via superconducting transformers formed from the first differential mode bias inductor L_(BD1) inductively coupled to the first inductor L₁, the second bias inductor L_(BD2) inductively coupled to the second inductor L₁, and the common mode bias inductor L_(BC) inductively coupled to the common inductor L_(C). The control lines are configured such that the flux induced by the common-mode flux bias line (CML) adds to that induced by the differential-mode flux bias line (DML) in one of the SQUIDs, while it subtracts from it in the other of the SQUIDs.

For example, a DC current I_(COM) can be applied through the line labeled as the common-mode flux line (CML) to induce a flux of 0.2 Φ₀ in both the first and second SQUIDs 32 and 34, respectively, which induces a current −I_(CIND) in the first SQUID 32 and a current +I_(CIND) in the second SQUID 34. A DC current +I_(DIND) is applied through the line labeled as differential mode flux line (DML) to induce a flux of 0.2 Φ₀ in the first SQUID 32 and −0.2 Φ₀ in the second SQUID 34, which results in a current of +I_(DIND) in the first SQUID 32 and +I_(DIND) in the second SQUID 34. This results in the second SQUID 34 enclosing a total applied flux of 0.4 Φ₀ (resulting in a high inductance for Josephson junction J₂) while the first SQUID encloses a zero total applied flux (low inductance for Josephson junction J₁). The polarity of the current flowing in one of the differential mode flux bias line (DML) or the common mode flux bias line (CML) can be changed to change the net flux and net current in the first and second RF SQUIDs 32 and 34, respectively, thus resulting in the control of routing of the input signal SIG_(IN) between one output port (e.g. TM_(A)) or the other (TM_(B)).

The single-pole double-throw switch circuit 30 can be embedded in a band-pass filter to properly match the single-pole double-throw switch circuit to a 50 Ohm environment. FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit schematic for simulation utilization with the junctions J₁ and J₂ of FIG. 2 modeled as inductors L1 and L2. FIG. 3 further illustrates the embedding of the band-pass filter, designed to have Chebychev response centered at 10 GHz. The values of components for this particular filter design are shown in Table I of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate graphical responses of gain versus frequency of an S-parameter simulation in Agilent ADS of the circuit in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 illustrates a graph 50 showing the transmission of an input signal from input port terminal 1 to output port terminal 2 (the S₂₁ response is plotted as reference numeral 52) and the blocking of the input signal from transmission to the output port terminal 3 (the S₃₁ response is plotted as reference numeral 56), as well as the reflection of the input signal at input port terminal 1 (S₁₁ reflection response is plotted as reference numeral 54). FIG. 5 illustrates a graph 60 showing the blocking of the input signal from input port terminal 1 to output port terminal 2 (the S₂₁ response is plotted as reference numeral 52) and the transmitting of the input signal from transmission to the output port terminal 3 (the S₃₁ response is plotted as reference numeral 56), as well as the reflection of the input signal at input port terminal 1 (S₁₁ reflection response is plotted as reference numeral 54).

The response of the junction inductances to applied flux is modeled here by increasing the respective inductance by a factor of 100, while the other junction inductance with a substantial applied flux is maintained unaltered. In the graph 50 of FIG. 4, the inductance of L2 (reference to J2 of FIG. 2) is scaled by a factor of 100, thus routing the signal from input port terminal 1 to output port terminal 2. In the graph 60 of FIG. 5, the inductance of L1 (reference to J1 of FIG. 2) is scaled by a factor of 100 thus routing the signal from input port terminal 1 to output port terminal 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of a schematic circuit of a single-pole double-throw switch circuit 70 residing in a different filter design to utilize in a simulation. FIG. 6 shows the complete circuit 70 including Josephson junctions b0 and b1 and flux bias ports labeled “a” and “d”. The common mode flux bias line is fed from port “a” through inductor L4 and is coupled to the common inductor L2 (ref L_(COM) in FIG. 2) via transformer K0. The differential mode flux bias is fed from port “d” via inductors L7 and L8 and coupled to inductors L3 and L6 (ref inductors L₁ and L₂ in FIG. 2) via transformers K1 and K2. The circuit can be simulated in WRSpice, which is a circuit simulator that accurately models the behavior of Josephson junctions and superconducting circuits.

FIG. 7 illustrates a set of WRSpice simulation results 80 of the circuit 70 of FIG. 6. An input signal 88 was provided that is a −120 dBm tone at 10 GHz, a DC common mode flux (not shown) was applied via port “a”, and an oscillating differential flux 86 was applied via port “d”, so that the fluxes associated with a first SQUID and second SQUID of circuit 70, correspond to Φ₁ and Φ₂ as shown in FIG. 2, oscillate between 0 and 0.365 Φ₀. A first plot 82 illustrates the voltage at the first output port (out1) and a second plot 84 illustrate the voltage at the second output port (out2) of the circuit 70, showing that the input signal 88 is routed alternatively to port 1 as shown in the first plot 82 or port 2 as shown in the second plot 84 in response to the change in polarity of the oscillating differential flux 86.

In one example of a possible application, the single-pole double-throw switch can be integrated with an RQL flux pump to provide the differential mode flux that toggles the switch between the two output settings. The flux pump and switch assembly may further be integrated with a superconducting qubit circuit. Such a system can provide a microwave pulse selectively to one of two qubits conditioned, for example, on the result of a measurement of a third qubit, thus implementing a conditional quantum gate. In another possible example application, the switch can be configured to apply microwave readout pulses to different groups of qubits in a sequence, under the control of an RQL processor. Yet a further example application involves connecting the switch in reverse, to select one output out of two input paths. This configuration allows, for example, supplying two signals of different frequencies (within the filter's pass band) to the switch inputs and selecting one of these two frequencies to propagate to the output. Two single-pole double-throw switch switches as disclosed here may be operated in tandem to select one of two signal paths in an integrated microwave circuit, each path having for example a different time delay or a narrow-band frequency response.

What have been described above are examples of the invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the invention are possible. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of this application, including the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A superconducting switch system comprising: a first Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) having a first variable inductance coupling element; a second SQUID having a second variable inductance coupling element, the second SQUID being coupled to the first SQUID through a common node; a first terminal coupled to the common node; a second terminal coupled to the first SQUID through an end opposite the common node; a third terminal coupled to the second SQUID through an end opposite the common node; a common mode flux bias line inductively coupled to the first and second SQUIDs and to induce a common mode flux in each of the first SQUID and second SQUID based on a first biasing current flowing through the common mode flux bias line; a differential mode flux bias line to induce a first differential mode flux in the first SQUID and a second differential mode flux in the second SQUID based on a second biasing current flowing through the differential mode flux bias line; and a switch controller configured to control the setting of the first variable inductance coupling element and the second variable inductance coupling element between opposing inductance states based on both the first and the second biasing currents to allow selective routing of signals between one of a first path between the first terminal and the second terminal and a second path between the first terminal and the third terminal, wherein the first, second, and third terminals are not on either of the common mode flux bias line or the differential mode flux bias line.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second variable inductance coupling elements are flux-controlled variable inductors that provide the variable inductance based on an amplitude of a current flowing through the flux-controlled variable inductor.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the variable inductance coupling element comprises a Josephson junction.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first SQUID is formed of a first inductor, the first variable inductance element which is a first Josephson junction and a second inductor, and the second SQUID is formed of the second inductor, the second variable inductance element which is a second Josephson junction, and a third inductor.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the common mode flux bias line comprises a common bias inductor inductively coupled to the second inductor, and the differential mode flux bias line comprises a first differential bias inductor inductively coupled to the first inductor, and a second differential bias inductor inductively coupled to the third inductor.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch controller controls an amount of the first biasing current through the common mode flux bias line and an amount of the second biasing current through the differential mode flux bias line and the polarity of current through one of the common mode flux bias line and the differential mode flux bias line, wherein the changing of polarity of current changes the selection between routing of signals through one of the first path and the second path.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the switch controller provides the first and the second biasing currents and polarity of the first and the second biasing currents to the common mode flux bias line and the differential mode flux line when selecting a path that results in one of the first SQUID and second SQUID having a net flux of approximately zero and the other of the first SQUID and second SQUID having a net flux of about 0.1Φ₀ to about 0.45 Φ₀, where Φ₀ is equal to a flux quantum.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first coupling capacitor coupled between the first terminal and the common node, a second coupling capacitor coupled between the second terminal and the first SQUID and a third coupling capacitor coupled between the third terminal and the second SQUID, wherein the first, second and third coupling capacitors assure that currents that flow through the first and second SQUIDs are isolated from flowing though other parts of the system.
 9. A superconducting switch comprising: a first Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) having a first inductor, a first Josephson junction and a common inductor arranged in a first superconducting loop; a second SQUID having the common inductor, a second Josephson junction and a second inductor arranged in a second superconducting loop; a first terminal coupled to a common node, the common node being connected to a first end of the common inductor, a first end of the first Josephson junction and a first end of the second Josephson junction; a second terminal coupled to a second end of the first Josephson junction and a first end of the first inductor; a third terminal coupled to a second end of the second Josephson junction and a first end of the second inductor; a common mode flux bias line comprising a common bias inductor inductively coupled to common inductor; and a differential mode flux bias line comprising a first differential bias inductor inductively coupled to the first inductor, and a second differential bias inductor inductively coupled to the second inductor, wherein the first, second, and third terminals are not on either of the common mode flux bias line or the differential mode flux bias line.
 10. The switch of claim 9, wherein an amount of current applied through the common mode flux bias line and the differential mode flux bias line and the polarity of current through one of the common mode flux bias line and the differential mode flux bias line provides a net flux of approximately zero in one of the first and second SQUIDs, and a flux of a substantial fraction of a ½ of flux quantum in the other of the first and second SQUIDs, which results in the selective routing of signals through one of the first terminal and the second terminal, and the first terminal and the third terminal.
 11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a first coupling capacitor coupled between the first terminal and the common node, a second coupling capacitor coupled between the second terminal and the first SQUID and a third coupling capacitor coupled between the third terminal and the second SQUID, wherein the first, second and third coupling capacitors assure that currents that flow through the first and second SQUIDs are isolated from flowing though other parts of the system. 